Cascade metathesis reactions for the synthesis of taxane and isotaxane derivatives

Tricyclic isotaxane and taxane derivatives and have been synthesized by a very efficient cascade ring-closing dienyne metathesis (RCDEYM) reaction, which formed the A and B rings in one operation. When the alkyne is present at C13 (with no neighboring gem-dimethyl group), the RCEDYM reaction leads to 14,15-isotaxanes 16a,b and 18b with the gem-dimethyl group on the A ring. If the alkyne is at the C11 position (and thus flanked by a gem-dimethyl group), RCEDYM reaction only proceeds in the presence of a trisubstituted olefin at C13, which disfavors the competing diene ring-closing metathesis reaction, to give the tricyclic core of Taxol 44

Synthesis of 1,3-diols by O-nucleophile additions to activated alkenes

The diastereoselective synthesis of 1,3-diols by addition of oxygen nucleophiles to activated alkenes is presented. This review focuses on homoallylic alcohol substrates that react with a relay compound to form an intermediate oxygen nucleophile, which in turn will lead to a protected 1,3-diol by intramolecular addition to the olefin moiety

Model studies for a ring-closing metathesis approach to the Bafilomycin macrolactone core from a 2,2-dimethoxy tetraenic ester precursor

A ring-closing metathesis strategy is reported for the construction of the 16-membered macrolactone core of the bafilomycins. One decisive key feature is the presence of a 2,2-dimethoxyketal functionality at C-2 that provides the required flexibility to the tetraenic ester precursor, allowing the ring-closing metathesis reaction to take place. Three different model esters of increasing complexity were successfully subjected to the 1,3-diene-ene ring-closing metathesis reaction. The best promoter for the simplest esters was the Grubbs first-generation precatalyst. A Hoveyda–Grubbs-type trifluoromethylamido-containing precatalyst developed by Mauduit's group gave satisfactory results for the most complex ester. In all experiments, the 12-Z-configured isomer was obtained as the major product. Subsequent microwave-promoted methanol elimination was achieved on the simplest model compound using camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) as a catalyst. Under these conditions, a E to Z isomerization of the double bond at C-4, as well as ca. 50 % isomerization of the 12-Z double bond into the corresponding 12-E isomer, were observed

Calculations on the ruthenium-catalyzed diene and dienyne ring-closing metathesis reactions in the synthesis of taxol derivatives

Density-functional and semiempirical calculations (M06, M06L, and PM6) on intermediates in the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions in the synthesis of Taxol derivatives give results in excellent agreement with the results of previous experimental work. The results suggest that the degree of steric overloading plays a decisive role in determining the outcome (ene–ene or ene–yne–ene metathesis). Due to the rigidity of the Taxol skeleton being formed in the ene–yne–ene cascade reaction, the transition states in its final ene–ene metathesis reaction stage are particularly sensitive to steric effects. Thus, the reaction is predicted to be preferred for one diastereomer of the precursor in which the diol functionality is protected with a compact cyclic carbonate moiety, whereas the use of a bulkier benzoate-protecting group results in activation barriers for Taxol formation that are prohibitive. The reason why one diastereomer of the carbonate-protected precursor undergoes formation of a tricycle via an ene–yne–ene RCM cascade, whereas the other diastereomer undergoes cyclooctene formation via an ene–ene RCM, likely lies in the orientation of the pseudoaxial methyl group on the cyclohexene ring, which in the latter case would unfavorably point toward the reactive center of the Ru-complex, leading to Taxol formation

Relay ring-closing metathesis strategies towards the synthesis of the ABC tricycle of Taxol

Two synthetic routes towards the ABC tricycle of Taxol are presented. They both involve a relay ring-closing metathesis reaction to make the central B ring in a convergent fashion. In the first approach, the extender arm is positioned on the A ring, and the C ring bears the relay tether in the second route. Metathesis precursors with diverse extender arms were efficiently synthesised; unfortunately, the crucial metathesis reactions failed to deliver the target compounds in all cases

Facile and efficient chemical functionalization of aliphatic polyesters by cross metathesis

An effective preparation of new tailor-made macromolecular materials via the combination of two (atom-efficient) catalytic transformations is reported. First, new aliphatic polyesters with alternated composition have been prepared using a salen aluminum catalyst system. Next, the pendant vinyl moieties in those copolymers have been selectively transformed into various functional groups by metathesis in the presence of homogeneous Grubbs catalysts. The latter metathesis reaction has been optimized in terms of catalytic activity and selectivity, to define the conditions for an effective and safe procedure that does not affect the macromolecular architecture. All polymer materials have been microstructurally analyzed by 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, to diagnose the catalyst selectivities in the copolymerization and metathesis processes